What are some great tips to becoming a better writer. What has helped you?

1. 59

   ThatFatGuyposted 11 years ago

   What are some great tips to becoming a better writer. What has helped you?

   replyreport
2. 60

   misc-discposted 11 years ago

   Avoid cliches and try your best never to use the word "it" or the phrase "a lot."
   Develop interesting characters; give them flaws equal to their greatness.
   Make your story unique. You can write about anything as long as you put your own realistic spin on it. Or, if you'd rather, make your story unique by making it highly surreal.

   replyreport
3. 75

   Diana Leeposted 11 years ago

   Some of the best tips I ever received was from an author friend of mine, Linda Alexander. Her latest best seller is A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story.  Linda told me a writer must have a very thick skin. In other words don't take everyone's opinion to heart when they criticize your work. A writer is only as good as their last written piece. We learn by mistakes, so never give up the goal you have set for yourself. Tips from successful published writers are worth paying attention to. I said to Rod Thompson (author of The Black Hills) that, I wish I could write a great western novel such as his. He said, "Just do it."

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Gina Lynn Wposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Per Stephen King, "Everybody has an opinion, but nobody's opinion is better than anybody else's."  Have faith in yourself and believe in your ability.

      replyreport
4. 61

   isabelamadaunposted 11 years ago

   Read what you like to write about, and then just read a bunch period.  All the best writers I know are also great readers.
   
   Try not to fall in love with everything you have written; it can always be better.  But don't hate in all either.  Balance is always important. 
   
   Practice your art, and don't give up.  Your talent might be rough in the beginning but it will soon get better.
   
   Let other people read it.  Especially people who you trust to give it to you straight.     
   
   And gain real life experiences.  As many as you can.  Because you can only write about what you understand.

   replyreport
5. 60

   Jaggedfrostposted 11 years ago

   Writers write.  Successful writers write more.  Published writers find the connection between what what they want to write and what the public fancies to read.  The odd ball writer writes their own version of reality anyhow and sifts through tons of different publishers for someone to care about their work and then publish it anyhow. Every now and again, their work changes what people fancy and then everyone copies their form.

   replyreport
6. 0

   VeronicaInspiresposted 11 years ago

   I follow a lot of different writers and look at their style and how they use language.
   
   I read a lot. I find that the more I read, the more my writing improves.
   
   Reading allows you to see how language flows and that subsequently, gets carried over into your writing.
   
   You can also study the craft of writing: grammar, spelling, how to develop your ideas and stuff like that, but there's this editor-- the first I'd ever heard, but rather well-known in writing circles-- who some even call legendary-- Alan Rinzler, who suggests something just as easy: keep reading and writing!

   replyreport